Scottish Executive

Agri-Environment Schemes

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reform agri-environment support measures.

Ross Finnie: In light of the responses received to the recent consultation exercise on changes to improve the operation of existing agri-environment schemes in the short-term, the Executive is considering early reforms to these schemes. As indicated in the consultation paper, we will be consulting also on longer term options, including what to do when current Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme agreements come to an end.

Ambulance Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been submitted under the complaints procedure of the Scottish Ambulance Service in each of the last three years and what the outcomes were.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the number of complaints submitted to the Scottish Ambulance Service under the NHS Complaints Procedure in the last three years, and the outcomes of these complaints:

  





Number Total Received 
  

Received, Total Responded to 
  

Outcome of Upheld 
  

Complaints Upheld in part 
  

(%)
Not Upheld 
  



1998-99 
  

580 
  

573 
  

43% 
  

24% 
  

33% 
  



1999-2000 
  

585 
  

572 
  

37% 
  

29% 
  

34% 
  



2000-01 
  

460 
  

460 
  

40% 
  

23% 
  

37%

Ambulance Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the complaints and appeals procedures of the Scottish Ambulance Service will be completed.

Malcolm Chisholm: A working group of NHS staff, professional and patient representatives are developing proposals for revision of the NHS complaints procedure to meet the commitment in  Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change . The objective is to produce a procedure which is "credible, easy to use, demonstrably independent and effective". The proposals will be made public in a consultation paper at the end of June 2002.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give the police new powers to deal with the playing of loud music, including consideration of the use of fixed penalty notices.

Mr Jim Wallace: The police already have powers to deal with the playing of loud music, including the power to confiscate sound equipment for up to 28 days if a person fails to stop the noise on being asked to do so by a police officer. We have a range of other measures in place to address the problem of anti-social behaviour more generally. New legislation should not be considered unless there is evidence that existing provision is inadequate.

Arts

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the national audit of museum and gallery collections, premises and public services.

Dr Elaine Murray: The final report of the national audit of Scotland’s museums and galleries has been completed and is currently being printed. Scottish Museums Council hope to launch the report in July.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage an increase in the number of alternative format books available in public libraries for people with a visual impairment.

Dr Elaine Murray: Statutory responsibility for local libraries lies with local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for determining the level of resources allocated for the library service which they provide for the residents of their area. This includes the purchase of materials to address the needs of blind and partially sighted people.

  I understand that annual expenditure by local authorities on audio-visual material, such as talking books, has increased from £1.0 million to £1.6 million over the last 10 years.

  The Scottish Library and Information Council, which receives core funding from the Scottish Executive, issued guidance to local authorities on book selection policies two years ago and over 30% of local authorities now have a policy in place with all the other local authorities working to develop their policies. A book selection policy aims to deliver user-led services to meet the needs of communities. The policy should be based on a profile of the needs of the community, including the needs of blind and partially sighted people, and could allow for the provision of a wide range of book and non-book materials.

Buildings

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to tackle the issue of inadequate sound insulation in buildings.

Hugh Henry: Noise problems in buildings are dealt with by a variety of measures, including building standards regulations and environmental health provisions. Recent research supports the current Scottish building standards relating to the transmission of sound and no review is planned until after the introduction of a new building standards system.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Beatson Oncology Centre to have its full quota of specialist oncologists.

Malcolm Chisholm: One new oncologist started work on 10 June, another starts work in July. A further recruitment campaign is currently under way and it is hoped that at least two medical oncology posts will be filled. Clinical oncology posts may prove more difficult against the recognised national shortage in that specialty. Posts may also be filled on a locum basis pending substantive appointments.

Cities

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the Cities Review will be published.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Cities Review report will be published in the autumn together with a response from the Executive.

Community Safety

Mr Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25429 by Mr Jim Wallace on 27 May 2002, what resources it has allocated to community safety (a) in each of the last three years, (b) in the present year and (c) for the next three years, broken down by local authority.

Dr Richard Simpson: The Community Safety Partnership Award Programme referred to in the previous answer was introduced on 1 April 2002. Prior to the introduction of this programme funding for CCTV and other community safety initiatives was awarded to specific projects through challenge funding competitions, rather than directly to local authorities. Since 1996, £10.3 million has been awarded to 161 CCTV projects across Scotland. From 2000 community safety projects have also received funding. The following tables show funding awarded to community safety initiatives by local authority area from 2000-01 onwards:

  Community Safety - Make Our Communities Safer Challenge Competition

  


Local Authority Area 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

8,135 
  
 



Aberdeenshire 
  
 

41,000 
  



Angus 
  

49,620 
  
 



Argyll and Bute 
  
 

8,100 
  



Borders 
  
 
 



Clackmannanshire 
  

9,600 
  
 



Dundee 
  

90,000 
  
 



Dumfries and Galloway 
  
 
 



East Ayrshire 
  
 

25,000 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  
 
 



East Lothian 
  

192,000 
  

384,000 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

23,150 
  
 



Edinburgh 
  

72,890 
  

776,500 
  



Falkirk 
  

23,832 
  

15,000 
  



Fife 
  

86,010 
  

85,000 
  



Glasgow 
  

412,028 
  

162,190 
  



Highland 
  

30,750 
  

81,500 
  



Inverclyde 
  
 
 



Midlothian 
  

48,000 
  

90,000 
  



Moray 
  
 
 



North Ayrshire 
  
 
 



North Lanarkshire 
  

42,250 
  

30,000 
  



Orkney 
  

14,220 
  

8,773 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  
 

44,537 
  



Renfrewshire 
  
 
 



Shetland Isles 
  
 
 



South Ayrshire 
  

10,000 
  

26,000 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

47,472 
  

112,000 
  



Stirling 
  
 

50000 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  
 

18,500 
  



Western Isles 
  
 

116,000 
  



West Lothian 
  
 

73,179 
  



  Under the new funding programme a total of £4 million per annum will be made available in financial years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 - £1 million more than the combined annual awards for the CCTV and Community Safety Challenge Competitions in previous years.

  The Community Safety Partnership Award is made up of two elements - the formulated award allocated according to size of population and the percentage of crimes per head of population, and the variable award allocated on a points system based on the quality and detail of the annual application submitted.

  The breakdown of award funding by local authority led community safety partnership for 2002-03 is shown in the following table:

  


Authority 
  

Formulated Award
(£) 
  

Variable Award
(£) 
  

Total
(£) 
  



Stirling 
  

68,481.62 
  

31,441.05 
  

99,922.67 
  



Falkirk 
  

88,715.97 
  

18,631.73 
  

107,347.70 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

61,109.45 
  

19,796.22 
  

80,905.67 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

85,353.57 
  

13,973.80 
  

99,327.37 
  



Fife 
  

166,338.90 
  

36,098.98 
  

202,437.88 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

107,773.79 
  

23,289.67 
  

131,063.46 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

174,346.96 
  

32,605.53 
  

206,952.49 
  



Moray 
  

69,883.47 
  

27,947.60 
  

97,831.07 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

230,523.00 
  

36,098.98 
  

266,621.98 
  



East Lothian 
  

64,797.33 
  

20,960.70 
  

85,758.03 
  



Midlothian 
  

72,718.97 
  

29,112.08 
  

101,831.05 
  



West Lothian 
  

105,880.30 
  

23,289.67 
  

129,169.97 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

70,514.97 
  

22,125.18 
  

92,640.15 
  



Highland 
  

106,895.12 
  

32,605.53 
  

139,500.65 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

21,172.55 
  

17,467.25 
  

38,639.80 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

26,753.53 
  

13,973.80 
  

40,727.33 
  



Western Isles 
  

23,512.31 
  

27,947.60 
  

51,459.91 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

62,002.27 
  

22,125.18 
  

84,127.45 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

98,695.32 
  

19,796.22 
  

118,491.54 
  



City of Glasgow 
  

296,305.87 
  

37,263.46 
  

333,569.33 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

71,240.80 
  

23,289.67 
  

94,530.47 
  



Inverclyde 
  

86,357.50 
  

26,783.11 
  

113,140.61 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

156,319.29 
  

26,783.11 
  

183,102.40 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

143,906.92 
  

34,934.50 
  

178,841.42 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

120,738.48 
  

26,783.11 
  

147,521.59 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

63,528.28 
  

19,796.22 
  

83,324.50 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

94,196.23 
  

32,605.53 
  

126,801.76 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

93,806.82 
  

22,125.18 
  

115,932.00 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

81,645.14 
  

19,796.22 
  

101,441.36 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

81,485.61 
  

17,467.25 
  

98,952.86 
  



Angus 
  

74,353.66 
  

24,454.15 
  

98,807.81 
  



Dundee City 
  

130,646.00 
  

18,631.73 
  

149,277.73 
  



Total 
  

3,200,000.00 
  

800,000.00 
  

4,000,000.00 
  



  The formulated element award will be the same for financial years 2003-04 and 2004-05, subject to certain criteria being met. The variable element will be calculated annually.

  Funding for 2005-06 and beyond has not as yet been set.

Credit Unions

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being made available for communities wishing to establish a credit union.

Hugh Henry: The Executive will assist the development of the credit union movement in Scotland through the implementation of the Action Plan Unlocking the Potential . £1.5 million is being made available over three years to help implement the plan.

Falkirk Wheel

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the Falkirk Wheel.

Lewis Macdonald: This is primarily an operational matter for British Waterways who are undertaking advertising campaigns in the local and national media. The Scottish Executive will be paying grant of £7.1 million to British Waterways in Scotland this financial year. We are very keen to see the wheel becoming a success and I am actively encouraging British Waterways to maximise its potential.

  The official opening by the Queen last month received significant press coverage and the area Tourist Board has also undertaken a number of promotional initiatives.

Film Industry

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to help and promote the Scottish film industry.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive sponsors Scottish Screen to encourage the development of the Scottish film, television, and related media as an industry and to promote film culture. Scottish Screen receives £2.6 million in grant from the Scottish Executive and is also the Lottery Distributor for film activity in Scotland, distributing a further £3 million through Lottery funded schemes.

Fisheries

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance funding for the Scottish fishing sector has been drawn down from the EU in each year since the beginning of the programme and how much is forecast to be drawn down in the next three years, expressed in euros.

Ross Finnie: In 2001, the Executive received initial advances of 1.9 million euros for the Highlands and Islands transitional Objective 1 programme for 2000-06, and 4.45 million euros for the programme covering the rest of Scotland. By the end of 2004 a further 13 and 26 million euros respectively should be drawn down for these programmes. This depends, however, on sufficient demand from the industry for grant and valid claims subsequently being made in respect of projects awarded financial aid.

Fisheries

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance funding it intends to draw down for the Scottish fishing sector in the current programme year, expressed in euros.

Ross Finnie: In the current programme year the Executive plans to seek reimbursement (draw down) of around 13 million euros - 3 million euros for the Highlands and Islands Transitional Objective 1 programme and 10 million euros for the programme covering the rest of Scotland.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the recent Fisheries Council in Luxembourg.

Ross Finnie: The agenda for the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg comprised the following main items: discussion of proposals for the introduction of TACs and a licensing scheme to regulate deep-water fisheries; a policy debate on the Commission’s cod and hake recovery proposals, and a presentation of the Commission’s proposals for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

  Agreement was reached by qualified majority on proposals for the regulation of deep-water species involving the establishment of a licensing scheme, and of TACs for a number of stocks. The UK opposed the proposals on the grounds that the measures were not likely to prove effective in conserving these endangered stocks.

  The debate on the Commission’s proposals for recovery plans for cod stocks in the North Sea, to the west of Scotland and in the Irish Sea was constructive, recognising the parlous state of these stocks and the need for effective responses and for full examination of the options and of the scientific and socio-economic issues. The UK acknowledged the urgency of the situation and called for serious and informed debate on the proposals.

  The Commission gave a presentation of its proposals for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy issued on 28 May and member states offered initial reactions. As expected there were divergent opinions on some aspects of the proposals. The UK welcomed the broad thrust of the proposals and the need for further consultation and discussion. The Commission aims to secure agreement on the reforms by the end of the year.

Gaelic

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to safeguard the future of Gaelic.

Mr Jack McConnell: We are supporting specific grants for Gaelic-medium education, measures to increase the numbers of Gaelic-speaking teachers graduating each year, the grant to the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee, and support for organisations promoting Gaelic. The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport will respond to the report of the MAGOG soon.

Health

Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to improve the diagnosis and treatment of victims of organophosphate poisoning and the provision of practical support for them.

Malcolm Chisholm: Appropriate arrangements are already in place in Scotland, which recognise that general practitioners and other health professionals are best placed to advise and inform patients, and to refer to a specialist in appropriate cases. Though the immediate and long-term effects of acute organophosphate poisoning - which is rare in Scotland - have been well understood for some time, diagnosis can be difficult as the signs and symptoms are non-specific to the cause. Because of this, general practitioners in Scotland were advised by the Chief Medical Officer in July 1999 of the need to be particularly vigilant for this possibility. The Scottish Poisons Information Bureau provides advice to the NHS on treatment.

Historic Sites

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the historic environment can contribute to economic regeneration in light of Passed to the Future - Historic Scotland’s Policy for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment .

Dr Elaine Murray: Passed to the Future sets out the principles of sustainable management of the historic environment. Caring for the historic environment in a sustainable way can improve the quality of life and help to revitalise our towns, cities and countryside. It can promote confidence and stimulate economic and social regeneration.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25814 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 May 2002, whether patients will have access to information relating to the extent of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) in each hospital following the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland’s report on HAI peer review visits due in January 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland’s report on individual trust’s performance against the infection control standard will be published and widely accessible to the public.

  The data collected through the national framework for surveillance is also published, through the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health. This again provides information for individual trusts.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25811 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 May 2002, what the forms of "appropriate action" are which it may take when NHS trusts fail to meet infection control standards following the Clinical Standards Board For Scotland’s reports on individual hospitals.

Malcolm Chisholm: My previous answer referred to the NHS taking the "appropriate action" required to meet the infection control standard. I have already made sure that the NHS is well aware of the need to meet the standard and to take any action required towards achieving that end. The action required will vary from area to area depending on the individual feedback received from the Clinical Standards Board For Scotland.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that housing associations will be able to recover rent arrears from tenants once tenants have signed the new Scottish Secure Tenancy.

Ms Margaret Curran: Rent arrears management is a matter for individual housing associations and the question of recoverability of rent arrears in any case will depend very much on the facts and circumstances of that case.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether housing association tenants will still be liable for any rent arrears incurred during existing tenancy agreements when the new Scottish Secure Tenancy is implemented.

Ms Margaret Curran: The interpretation of statute is a legal matter which is ultimately for the courts. However, it is the Executive’s view that the implementation of the Scottish secure tenancy (converting existing tenancies to Scottish secure tenancies) will not of itself affect any existing rent arrears.

Local Government Finance

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the Local Government Committee’s 6th Report 2002, Inquiry into Local Government Finance .

Mr Andy Kerr: Our response to the committee's inquiry has issued today (Reference SE/2002/104).

  Copies are available from the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre.

MMR Vaccine

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the yellow card reporting system for adverse reactions to the MMR vaccination has highlighted any evidence of a pathogenic factor.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Yellow Card Scheme has a proven track record in identifying new drug safety hazards, and in identifying possible risk factors for some reactions. Adverse reactions known to be associated with combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines and contraindications for MMR are listed in the product information for the MMR products. These are also described in Immunisation Against Infectious Disease and are detailed in materials for parents, such as "The MMR discussion pack". However, in many cases, as with most medicines and vaccines, the risk factors for the development of adverse reactions to MMR vaccine are not known.

  The safety of MMR vaccines is kept under continuous review by the UK Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). Any new research that may emerge in relation to possible pathogenic risk factors for adverse reactions to MMR vaccines would be carefully reviewed by the MCA and CSM.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training provision will be made available to staff employed within the field of mental health as a result of the proposed new legislation.

Malcolm Chisholm: As our policy statement Renewing Mental Health Law recognised, comprehensive training for all professions who operate mental health law will be a crucial part of the preparation for the introduction of the proposed new legislation. We are currently initiating discussions with services and professional bodies regarding the development of an appropriate training programme.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a code of practice will be compiled in conjunction with the proposed new mental health legislation and what protection any such code will give both to patients and staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: As our policy statement Renewing Mental Health Law made clear, we will produce a Code of Practice for the proposed new legislation. Its purpose will be to promote the effective operation of all parts of the legislation, including those which provide rights and protections to service users, carers and staff.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community psychiatric nurses are currently in place, broken down by health board area and the amount of hours worked per week.

Malcolm Chisholm: The latest available information on the number of Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) can be found on ISD’s online publication Workforce Statistics , which can be accessed from the following link:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/NHSiS_resource/Workforce/workforce_statistics.htm.

  The whole time equivalent and headcount of CPNs by NHS board can be found in Tables E3 and E4 respectively.

  The number of hours worked per week is not available centrally.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are in place to recruit and train mental health officers.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are over 900 mental health officers working in Scottish local authorities, an increase of 300 since 1997. In addition, approximately 75 social workers are presently undertaking training to become mental health officers.

  The Adult with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and the forthcoming mental health legislation introduce a number of new statutory duties for mental health officers. In anticipation of this, the Social Work Services Inspectorate is undertaking a survey of local authority mental health officer service structures and activities to assess how best to meet these new demands.

  Existing training takes different forms. Basic mental health officer training courses are approved by the Scottish Social Services Council and are run by five local authority fora on a yearly basis. To assist local authorities in carrying out their duties under the Adults with Incapacity Act, the Social Work Services Inspectorate recently produced 1,800 training packs of specific relevance to mental health officers and backed this up with four national seminars for those who will be delivering the training locally to become familiar with the material.

Ministerial Visits

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial visits took place during the Parliament’s visit to Aberdeen.

Patricia Ferguson: Ministers participated in 51 separate engagements, including events attended by two or more ministers, in the Aberdeen area during the Parliament’s visit to Aberdeen.

NHS Spending

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether existing NHS budgets will be required to accommodate any financial implications arising from the introduction of the proposed new mental health legislation.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive’s assessment of the financial implications of the proposed new mental health legislation will be set out in the Financial Memorandum, which will accompany the bill, and is being taken into account in the current Spending Review, which will determine NHS budgets for 2003-04 to 2005-06. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced in September 2002.

NHS Staff

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the First Minister what benefits will come from the establishment of NHS Education for Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: We created NHS Education for Scotland to support our drive to improve standards in Scotland's health service. Meeting the development and training needs of NHS staff will bring real health benefits to patients.

NHS Waiting Times

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25826 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 May 2002, when the National Waiting Times database giving GPs, consultants, patients and the public access to accurate and up-to-date information on hospital waiting times will be available and accessible throughout Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The National Waiting Times Unit expects that the database will be available by the end of this year. Trials of the database, using information from selected geographical areas, will begin shortly.

Nursing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in recruiting and retaining nurses at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust has been actively seeking to recruit and retain nurses through a number of initiatives including:

  Advertising in the nursing and other press.

  Targeting newly qualified nurses expected to graduate from September 2002.

  As part of the centrally funded Facing the Future initiative, running a return to practice programme supporting 12 places with the first six starting in September. Funding will cover course costs, travel expenses, books and childcare.

  In addition, the Scottish Executive are targeting all lapsed nursing registrants in the Glasgow area inviting them to return to practice and gathering information on reasons for leaving and what would encourage them to return.

  Also, the trust will be exhibiting at the Nursing Times Live exhibition at the SECC in Glasgow on 10-11 July 2002

Oil and Gas Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken in response to the recent announcements regarding job losses in the oil and gas sector.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish ministers will continue to work with oil and gas companies through PILOT to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry, and Local Enterprise Companies will continue to work with the industry on short-term changes which impact on jobs.

Oil and Gas Industry

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to Her Majesty’s Government over job losses in the north-east’s oil industry following the increase in corporation tax on oil companies announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.

Police

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement is being given to the recruitment of, and support for, police officers from black and minority ethnic communities.

Dr Richard Simpson: I know from my contacts with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland that Chief Constables are well aware of their responsibilities to promote and improve race equality within the Scottish Police Service and are taking steps actively to encourage the recruitment police officers from black and minority ethnic communities. Six out of eight forces now have ethnic minority lay advisor groups and the two remaining forces also have arrangements for advice.

Police

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25829 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 May 2002, which police authorities have indicated formally, since 1999, that additional funding for extra officers would be beneficial to their communities.

Mr Jim Wallace: Issues linked to funding are on the agendas of most of the formal meetings that take place involving the Scottish Executive and Police Authority Conveners. The most recent written representation in connection with additional funding from an individual authority that we have identified from our records was received from the Clerk to the Grampian Joint Police Board in February 2002. In addition, representations relating to additional funding for specific purposes have been received from time to time from individual chief constables and also from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland on behalf of all forces.

Rail Services

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the Edinburgh CrossRail project.

Lewis Macdonald: Iain Gray formally opened the £11 million Edinburgh CrossRail project on 4 June 2002. This project will deliver significant benefits to commuters from East of Edinburgh, including the opportunity to park and ride from Newcraighall.

Regulation

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Improving Regulations in Scotland Unit in (a) reducing the burden of regulation, (b) making the implementation of regulations easier and (c) ensuring that the way in which regulations apply to businesses is fair.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive keeps the allocation of all its resources under scrutiny to ensure their use remains justified. The Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit continues to have an important contribution to make, to secure delivery of the Executive’s commitment to simplicity and fairness in policy and regulations impacting on business.

Shipbuilding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any input into the Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry into employment in shipbuilding on the Clyde.

Iain Gray: My predecessor, Ms Wendy Alexander, was unable to give evidence at the committee due to Cabinet business. However, she provided the committee with comprehensive and relevant evidence in the form of the recently published report of the Clyde Shipyards Task Force. This has provided the basis for evidence by other witnesses, a significant number of whom were members of the task force.

Shipbuilding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effect on the shipbuilding industry on the River Clyde of either continuing to support the securing of government defence contracts or increasing the number of commercial contracts secured.

Iain Gray: The issue of the balance between naval and commercial contracts was considered by the Clyde Shipyards Task Force which my predecessor, Ms Wendy Alexander, chaired.

  The task force recognises, in its report published in February 2002, that "BAE SYSTEMS Marine is predominantly a warship builder … the Govan, Scotstoun and Barrow yards employ approximately 80% of the UK’s warship design, build and integration skills base. However, given BAE SYSTEMS Marine’s current business strategy, the success of this nationally important business is almost completely dependent upon continued success in winning warship design and build contracts."

  The task force’s report also includes a recommendation that "BAE SYSTEMS Marine should continue to pursue commercial work where this is compatible with warship capacity demands and a sound business case can be made."

  The Govan and Scotstoun yards now have a healthy order book for naval orders and are well placed to win a significant proportion of the work on the MoD’s two future aircraft carriers.

Sustainable Development

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will set a target for each of the sustainable development indicators in Meeting the Needs … that does not currently have a target.

Ross Finnie: We intend to set additional targets for some of the indicators when appropriate in the light of further policy and scientific work. For others it will be more appropriate to monitor the trend than to set a target.

TSE (Scotland) Regulations 2002

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation similar to the TSE (England) Regulations 2002.

Ross Finnie: The TSE (Scotland) Regulations 2002, SSI No 2002/255, which implement Community legislation, were signed then laid before the Parliament on 29 May. These controls come into force on 19 June.

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in finding induction year places for teacher training graduates with Scottish local authorities from August 2002.

Nicol Stephen: The new Teacher Induction Scheme will be introduced, on target, in August.

  All primary probationers have now been notified of the local authority they will be working for during their probationary year. All of them have been offered one of their five choices, with three-quarters offered their first choice authority. In secondary, 95% of probationers have already been allocated to a local authorities of their choice and this process will be completed over the next few weeks.

Tourism

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met VisitScotland and what issues were discussed.

Mike Watson: The Executive keeps in close touch with VisitScotland management by means of regular meetings, at which a wide range of matters are discussed.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an investigation into road and pathway maintenance similar to that recently instigated by the House of Commons Transport Sub-Committee, detailing the reasons behind its position on the matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has no plans to carry out a comparable examination. However, officials liaise closely with colleagues in other departments on the development of UK technical standards for roads and we will look with interest to the results of the committee's investigation.

  Separately, the Executive is supporting the decision of the Society of Chief Officers of Transport in Scotland to take forward a long-term national condition survey of the local road network. This survey will inform future decisions by local authorities on the funding required to tackle maintenance and improvements of local roads.

Transport

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make available the reports on the central Scotland transport corridor studies.

Iain Gray: I received the consultants’ reports yesterday. I have asked the consultants to make their report available today on their website at:

  www.cstcs.co.uk.

  I have also arranged for copies of the Executive Summary to be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

  A series of public exhibitions is planned in August and September to allow the consultants to present their recommendations to the public within each of the corridors.

  The Executive will consider the recommendations carefully. I expect to be able to announce decisions on the way forward later this year, taking account of the consultants’ recommendations and any subsequent comments we receive.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will list all those present at the meeting on 4 September 2001 at which John Tang of Flour City International and his senior officials were present and whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of any memorandum, notes or other documents relating to this meeting.

Sir David Steel: I am informed by the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that in attendance on 4 September 2001 were John Tang, Chairman of Flour City International; senior site based representatives of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd; the Managing Partner of Flour City International’s investment banker; Bovis Lend Lease Project Director; representatives of the Bovis Lend Lease Commercial team, and members of the Holyrood Project Team. The Parliament has received legal advice that documents should not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre while the SPCB’s rights and entitlements are still being evaluated, as they may form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-18874 on 1 November 2001, whether the design and specialist cladding services work provided by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Limited is being used in the final cladding contract or contracts and whether it will detail the amount or value of these services provided by Flour City which is not being used.

Sir David Steel: I understand that all the design work done by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd has been used.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to questions S1W-19252 and S1W-20308 on 16 November and 7 December 2001 respectively, on what date the technical information from Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Limited should have been provided; what the information was which was "considerably overdue"; to whom the concerns by EMBT/RMJM were expressed; whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the whole document or documents in which such concerns were expressed; in the event that any of this information is deemed to be commercially confidential, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will state on what basis and why and whose interest would be damaged by its disclosure, and whether the losses emanating from the insolvency of Flour City are deemed to fall within the category of force majeure on the risk register.

Sir David Steel: The information requested by the member is particularly detailed. I will provide the member with a substantive response as soon as possible.

  
"This answer has been replaced by the answer published 
  on 19 June 2002"

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer,what specialist cladding services were carried out by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Limited and how much they were paid for these.

Sir David Steel: Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd undertook design works in association with stone, precast concrete and stainless steel cladding, glazing and blast resistant secondary support structures to the various cladding components on the MSP block. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress has confirmed that the company was paid £854,067 for these services.